Sam Adams pulls out of St. Patrick’s parade

BOSTON (AP) — The maker of Sam Adams beer says it is withdrawing its sponsorship of Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day parade over organizers’ continued exclusion of gay groups.

Boston Beer Co. said in a statement Friday that it is disappointed that an agreement couldn’t be reached between the gay rights advocacy group MassEquality and parade organizers that would have allowed a group of gay veterans to march.

The decision also came a day after a South End bar said it would no longer serve Sam Adams products because of the brewer’s affiliation with the parade, which is scheduled for Sunday.

Mayor Martin Walsh has been trying to broker a deal that would have allowed a gay group to march, but those negotiations broke down.